A male and female Cardinal together make up one of the most handsome couples in the bird world.  The brilliant red color of the male is outstanding in both winter and summer surroundings. The beautiful red and beige markings of the female are more visible against a snowy backdrop, but can also be easily identified amidst the summer foliage as well.These birds are interesting to observe at a feeder. It is pretty common to see a male cardinal, on a platform feeder, pick up a seed and take it over and give it to the female. Most cardinal pairs remain together for the year, with the female being the only one to incubate the eggs. The male will keep her fed and safe. Sounds like a great working relationship!  Once the eggs are hatched, anywhere from 2 to 5, both male and female will be kept busy feeding. Cardinals generally will have two broods in a season, and they prefer to nest in dense shrubbery or in the branches of a small tree. The nest is not easily spotted, so in order to locate one you would need to observe the pair’s patterns. Just don’t get too close to a possible nest. If the female feels threatened while on the nest, she may abandon the eggs. Looks like a little Downy Woodpecker was trying to get in on the act. They are very plentiful in the Midwest, so it's hard to get a good bird picture without one in it.
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